Verify User Who Owns /etc/security/opasswd.old File

Description

To properly set the owner of /etc/security/opasswd.old, run the command:

$ sudo chown root /etc/security/opasswd.old

Rationale

The /etc/security/opasswd.old file stores backups of old passwords to prevent password reuse. Protection of this file is critical for system security.

Remediation

Shell script

The following script can be run on the host to remediate the issue.

#!/bin/bash

if id "0" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
  newown="0"
fi
if [[ -z ${newown} ]]; then
  echo "0 is not a defined user on the system"
  exit 1
fi
chown $newown /etc/security/opasswd.old

Ansible playbook

The following playbook can be run with Ansible to remediate the issue.

- name: Set the file_owner_etc_security_opasswd_old_newown variable if represented
    by uid
  set_fact:
    file_owner_etc_security_opasswd_old_newown: '0'
  tags:
  - configure_strategy
  - file_owner_etc_security_opasswd_old
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed

- name: Test for existence /etc/security/opasswd.old
  stat:
    path: /etc/security/opasswd.old
  register: file_exists
  tags:
  - configure_strategy
  - file_owner_etc_security_opasswd_old
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed

- name: Ensure owner on /etc/security/opasswd.old
  file:
    path: /etc/security/opasswd.old
    owner: '{{ file_owner_etc_security_opasswd_old_newown }}'
  when: file_exists.stat is defined and file_exists.stat.exists
  tags:
  - configure_strategy
  - file_owner_etc_security_opasswd_old
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed